3UCHAN AND FRANKLIN. 



87 



from 7ipsctting or staving it. They would place their 

 tusks on the gunwale, or rush at it with their heads 

 The herd was so numerous, and their attacks so inces- 

 sant, that there was not time to load a musket. The 

 purser fortunately had his gun loaded, and the men now 

 being nearly exhausted with chopping and sticking at 

 their assailants, he snatched it up, and, thrusting the 

 muzzle down the throat of a large and formidable wal- 

 rus, who seemed to be the leader of the herd, fired into 

 his bowels. The wound proved mortal, and the animal 



ATTACK BY WALRUSES. 



fell back among his companions, who immediately 

 desisted from the attack, assembled round him, and in a 

 moment quitted the boat, swimming away as hard as 

 they could with their leader, whom they actually bore up 

 with their tusks, and assiduously preserved from sinking. 

 Many similar acts of compassion, on the part of thes<* 

 animals towards their wounded companions, were 

 observed. On one occasion, when several walniBea 



